Silkie Chicken : All You Need To Know
Silkie Chicken
These birds originated in China and Japan and arrived in America in the 1800s.
Their feathers do not have the
barbicels that hold a normal feather together, which gives the birds the illusion
they are fluffy.
Their feathers are
similar in texture to fur and are not like the smooth feathers other chickens
have.
They typically have a topknot, which
is a poof of feathers on top of their head, or their faces can be completely covered
with feathers, similar
to a shaggy dog.
Silkies come in a variety
of colors: red, buff, white,
black, splash (a chicken that is one color with a splash of
another color highlighted typically on its head and back), cuckoo
(barred or striped
with another color such as black and white), and lavender, with blue/black skin and
black bones.
Their earlobes are blue or turquoise, and their eyes are brown or black.
The comb is
the fleshy growth on top of a chicken’ shead.
Some chickens have thicker combs.
Silkies have walnut-shaped combs that should
be wider than they are long.
Some Silkies have pea combs, which are low combs with
three ridges, or a thin single comb that
is thin, attaches to the beak along the skull with five or six grooves, and
stands up.
This type of comb probably would be disqualified from a show because it is not the ideal comb for a pure breed.
Whereas most chickens
have four toes, silkies have five, which adds to their
uniqueness.
Male bantam Silkies
weigh approximately 36 ounces.
A bantam is a miniature
version of a full-sized chicken, usually about one-fourth the size.
The female
bantam weighs about 32 ounces.
The weight of standard-sized Silkies
is about 6 pounds for the male and 5 for the
female.
Their eggs are a dark cream
to brown color.
Silkies are a docile
breed, which makes them a great choice
for novices.
They also
make wonderful pets.
Because their
feathers are not webbed, they cannot
fly.
Silkies, like all chickens, require
a protective coop to keep them safe from
predators.
Hens and roosters of this breed are known for their parenting skills.
The roosters often call to the chicks
when food is found, which, with other breeds, is usually the hen’s responsibility.
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